01/03/2001

Redskins Hire Schottenheimer as Head Coach

The Washington Redskins Wednesday announced the hiring of veteran NFL Coach Marty Schottenheimer as the team's 22nd Head Coach and Director of Football Operations with a four-year, $10 million contract.

Schottenheimer, 57, has the NFL's 12th best career winning record (among coaches with more than 100 career victories) at 150-96-1. During his 10 years as Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, the team posted a 101-58-1 regular season record. The resulting win percentage, .634, was the second-highest in the NFL behind San Francisco.

Prior to his tenure at Kansas City, Schottenheimer was Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns for four full seasons. He retired following the 1998 season and has been working with ESPN as a pro football analyst. For nine of his 10 Chiefs' seasons, Schottenheimer's teams averaged 10 wins a season and advanced to the playoffs seven times, making Kansas City one of the AFC's most dominant teams of the 1990s. During his four full seasons with the Browns, the team earned four playoff berths, three AFC Central titles; played in two AFC Championship games and was consensus AFC Coach of the Year in 1986.

Additionally, Schottenheimer coached 12 straight teams to winning records and led nine of his 13 clubs to 10-win seasons. He was in the playoffs 11 of his 14 full seasons as a head, leading three of those teams to conference title games.

"Marty Schottenheimer knows how to win, and that's what Redskins fans demand in a coach," said Daniel M. Snyder, owner of the Redskins. "I believe we have a solid player foundation at the Redskins. We're now pairing that with a coach who understands what it takes to be successful in the NFL."

Schottenheimer said he decided to return to coaching "because it's in my blood. It's who I am."

"Dan Snyder is committed to winning, and so am I," he added. "The Washington Redskins are among the leading franchises in all sports and it's a privilege to join the organization. I look forward to getting immediately to work so we're in a strong position as we approach the business of putting the 2001 Redskins on the field."

Schottenheimer left Kansas City with three years remaining on his contract. As compensation for the Chiefs relinquishing their contract with Schottenheimer, the Redskins will compensate the team with one third-round draft pick this year, and another third-round pick in the 2002 draft.

Schottenheimer started his coaching career with the Portland Storm of the World Football League in 1974. A year later his joined the New York Giants as linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1977. In 1978 he became linebackers coach for the Detroit Lions, where he stayed for two years before joining the Browns as defensive coordinator in 1980. He was named Head Coach of the Browns mid-way through the 1984 season.

In 1965, Schottenheimer was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts and in the seventh round of the AFC draft by the Buffalo Bills. He signed with the Bills and played with the team from 1965-68. He joined the Boston Patriots in 1969, playing two seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He retired in 1971.

Schottenheimer was an All-America linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh, where he has been named to the school's all-time team. He was an honor student and football/basketball standout at Ft. Cherry High School in McDonald, PA. He played college football at Pitt, where he earned a degree in English.

Born Sept. 23, 1943 in Canonsburg, PA, Schottenheimer and his wife Pat have two children.